European border agency Frontex is the subject of a fresh investigation following human rights concerns about its co-operation with Libya.
Activists say Frontex failed to consider human rights risks before offering training and lending surveillance equipment to other countries.
The European Union helps Libya to train border guards under an €85 million ($83m) project to keep Mediterranean migration in check.
But the EU agency has been dogged by claims that it is funding abuses by Libyan coast guards.
After a complaint by six human rights groups, an EU ombudsman has opened an inquiry into two aspects of Frontex’s co-operation with Libya.
Border guards have been ordered to explain whether human rights risks were assessed before training was provided on law enforcement at sea.
Documents on one training exercise that were attached to the complaint did not include any such risk assessment, said the ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly.
She also asked Frontex whether similar risks were considered in aerial surveillance of the Mediterranean together with Libya.
The UN and its refugee agency UNHCR have described “terrible and systematic abuse” at Libyan-run detention facilities for asylum seekers.
EU migration chief Ylva Johansson said in April that she expected Libya to bring an end to inhumane conditions in detention centres.
Berenice Gaudin of Sea Watch, one of the groups that filed a complaint, said: “Our message is clear: we are watching and we will continue to fight Frontex’s border practices through all possible legal ways.”
“For the past years, we have been witnessing Frontex’s inhumane co-operation with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard which led to illegal pullbacks of thousands of individuals to Libya,” she added.
About 38,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean from Libya to the coast of Italy this year. Most of those arriving in Europe are not Libyan but originally from countries such as Tunisia, Egypt or Bangladesh.
Another four lines of inquiry by the ombudsman concern Frontex’s collaboration with non-EU countries generally.
The agency was told to pass on any concerns raised about its missions with Niger and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The EU’s diplomatic corps, the European External Action Service, is also under Ms O’Reilly’s microscope over similar concerns.
It was asked to hand over copies of internal reports on its civilian missions in Libya, Somalia, Niger, Mali, Palestine and Iraq.
The EU ombudsman opened a separate inquiry last year into Frontex’s work helping African countries to develop surveillance capabilities.
The agency also faced allegations that it was involved in so-called “pushbacks” at sea while patrolling Greece’s waters.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
BRAZIL SQUAD
Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
